Chapter 5, Li Zicheng

Almost simultaneously, that fellow suddenly charged out from the crowd and knelt down on the street, while two cavalrymen from the front immediately shouted in anger and raised their long guns

The wealthy gentry of today, who exploit the common people by imposing rents, food taxes, and other levies, operate under the guise of extraordinary profits to deceive the populace while monopolizing their gains. When faced with crises, they expect the impoverished to exert their strength in defense, which is unreasonable. The Qin vassals, who were the richest in the world, saw their treasury in Xi'an plundered by bandits for no less than one million, all of which was used to support the thieves. Had they not extracted so much from the people in peacetime and had they provided more rewards to their soldiers in times of trouble, it is unlikely that matters would have escalated to this extent. Furthermore, I have heard of the fall of Laiyang, where the gentry of the East Gate, Zhang Hongde, repelled the bandits but pursued the villagers to reward them, inflicting severe punishment and distress. When one family revolted, the entire town suffered calamity. The bandits forced Hongde to reveal his hidden treasures, obtaining one million in gold, after which his entire family was executed. The wealthy gentry of today should take heed of this and consider adopting a system similar to land redistribution, allowing the rich to contribute modestly to aid the poor, which would also serve as a strategy to rescue the people and restore order.

Even without Li Zicheng, there would be others to breach Beijing

That fellow screamed

Although I am merely a captain of the Jinyiwei, I ultimately benefit from the bounty of the Ming Dynasty. At this moment, despite my humble abilities, I have been fortunate enough to receive Your Majesty's favor and be spared from punishment. However, with the fate of the former sovereign still unknown, how could I betray my lord in pursuit of wealth and honor? If, by chance, the Emperor of the Ming is still alive and Your Majesty treats him kindly, I shall certainly vow to follow Your Majesty unto death

Yang Qing said

rather than the starving population

If they were willing to allocate funds and resources to assist the disaster victims, the common people would certainly not be driven to revolt

Yang Qing was lost in thought when suddenly a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight. Across the street, amidst the crowd, stood the Jin Yi Wei who had initially been with him but had fled without a second thought. At this moment, he was looking at Yang Qing with a puzzled expression

At this moment, Li Zicheng was already visible from a distance

You are indeed a man of loyalty and righteousness, far superior to those so-called prime ministers and ministers. With your abilities and your loyalty, it is truly a pity that you are merely a brocade-clad captain. This Chongzhen truly deserves his downfall. Very well, you shall wait here in the capital. Lai Heng, escort him home and assign someone to protect him. No one is to disturb him.

Those who compel them to suffer in silence are the guilty ones; these are the true criminals

The two of them immediately squeezed into a crowd, and before they could bow, an official-like figure emerged from a courtyard behind them, holding aloft a paper flag proclaiming the eternal reign of the Great Shun Emperor. Accompanied by servants carrying a incense table and offerings of food and wine, they set it up beside the street. Then, the official, along with a group of family members behind him, knelt solemnly to welcome the emperor.

Similarly, if the gentry of the north would rather invite foreign tribes into the borders than accept Li Zicheng, there would not have been the Battle of Shanhaiguan, nor would they have acted as accomplices, allowing the Tartars to sweep across the land. Ultimately, it was the rebel peasant army that transformed into the defenders of the Ming Dynasty

This is also a great hero of an era

Yang Qing hurriedly dismounted from the donkey and bowed down.

Yang Qing and the other person intuitively moved to their side and knelt down.

If this is not properly addressed, she may not be able to go far before dying on the road

This is a memorial submitted by the official in charge of military affairs in the 17th year of the Chongzhen reign.

Then Li Zicheng was quite pleased

However, Yang Qing made a miscalculation

The general soon arrived at the front and immediately turned his gaze towards Yang Qing under the guidance of the Imperial Guard.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for your support

Almost at the same moment he spoke these words, he seized the official beside him who was welcoming the intruder. The official was indeed unfortunate, as he was waiting to pledge loyalty to the intruder, not expecting that an assassin was hiding behind him. Just as he was about to escape this troublesome place, Yang Qing grabbed him by the belt and threw him forward. The general thrust his spear, instantly piercing through the old man's chest, and with a loud roar, he flung the official aside, who fell with a scream. However, at the same time he threw the man out, Yang Qing crashed into the courtyard door behind him. The general waved his spear, and dozens of cavalrymen immediately leaped over the wall on horseback. As they landed, Yang Qing had already climbed onto the roof.

He has no time to waste with Li Zicheng; the most important thing now is to hurry back and treat Princess Kunxing's injuries

Good skills

Are you willing to follow me or not

Over the course of more than a decade, he rose from a bandit to dominate a large part of China, causing widespread chaos and even forcing the emperor to hang himself in the capital. This can certainly be considered a remarkable feat. It cannot be said that he was a good person, nor can he be regarded as a great revolutionary; however, he was not merely a common bandit either. He emerged from poverty and hardship, thus he genuinely sought to address certain issues. Yet, his abilities were ultimately limited. He destroyed the old era but lacked the capacity to establish a new one, inadvertently benefiting foreign invaders who were eyeing the situation, which plunged the land of Huaxia into a dark age lasting three hundred years, leaving a lasting legacy of harm that extends to the present day. It cannot be said that he was a good person, nor can he be regarded as a great revolutionary; however, he was not merely a common bandit either. He emerged from poverty and hardship, thus he genuinely sought to address certain issues. Yet, his abilities were ultimately limited. He destroyed the old era but lacked the capacity to establish a new one, inadvertently benefiting foreign invaders who were eyeing the situation, which plunged the land of Huaxia into a dark age lasting three hundred years, leaving a lasting legacy of harm that extends to the present day

Yang Qing quickly said

Yang Qing stood up and said helplessly

Please, Brother Yang

Ah, we meet again

The second strike followed immediately, causing the petals to scatter while shattering the flower pot

Yang Qing also spoke very straightforwardly

The young general, namely his grandnephew Li Laiheng, smiled as he looked at Yang Qing

Two cavalrymen immediately took hold of the warhorses

Yang Qing lay behind the crowd, feeling somewhat emotional as he watched Li Zicheng

The former is the cause, while Li Zicheng is merely an inevitable result

However, this is merely what Ji Liuqi stated. It is reasonable to say that Li Zicheng shot at the Chengtian Gate, but it is inexplicable that he shot at the Xichang'an Gate. He entered the imperial city through the Ming Gate, not the Xichang'an Gate; there is no logic in taking a side entrance instead of the main gate. Therefore, this matter can only be regarded as a rumor from unofficial history. After all, Ji Liuqi has never seen it with his own eyes in Beijing, and his account of the late Ming period is based on the retelling and compilation of others.

But now it is different

Several cavalrymen of the Shun army galloped past, shouting and waving their whips. As they passed, the pedestrians on both sides hurriedly stopped, trembling and either kneeling or bowing.

Even the gentry in the north possess it

The great presence of the King of Chaos walked straight through the muddy streets created by freezing rain and accumulated snow

Yang Qing also smiled as he looked at him

Yang Qing stuffed a large bag of medicinal herbs into his bosom, carefully glancing to the sides like an underground party member in a movie. He then waved his hand backward and walked forward with the eunuch who was leading the way towards the street ahead

Even if they successfully escape from Beijing, they will inevitably face the hardships of fleeing. It is important to note that within a radius of several hundred miles around Beijing, the area is entirely under the control of the Shun army. Although Yang Qing mentioned going to Tianjin, this is merely a statement. First of all, Tongzhou will surrender today, so they will not even be able to pass the first stop on their way to Tianjin. Moreover, Tianjin will soon surrender as well. The only Ming army nearby, apart from Wu Sangui, is Liu Zeqing from Linqing, who will quickly be defeated and retreat towards Huai'an. Therefore, if they truly wish to flee, it will be a difficult road ahead. First of all, Tongzhou will surrender today, so they will not even be able to pass the first stop on their way to Tianjin. Moreover, Tianjin will soon surrender as well. The only Ming army nearby, apart from Wu Sangui, is Liu Zeqing from Linqing, who will quickly be defeated and retreat towards Huai'an. Therefore, if they truly wish to flee, it will be a difficult road ahead.

At that moment, a general urged his horse forward behind Li Zicheng. There was a commotion on both sides of the street, yet Li Zicheng remained calm, simply standing there on his horse, observing the scene, while cavalry quickly surrounded him for protection

This is Deshengmen Street, from where he must detour westward around the Imperial City, entering the Imperial City through the main gate, the Ming Gate. It is said that he also attempted to shoot at the plaques at Xichang'an Gate and Chengtian Gate, but missed the center, hitting slightly lower instead. Niu Jinxing praised this as a sign of at least dividing the world in half.

General, I apologize for the offense!

The Ming Dynasty was destroyed by the gentry class

In history, after her arm was severed, she was immediately rescued by a palace maid. Soon after, Li Zicheng entered the imperial palace and specifically ordered that she be sent to her maternal grandfather, Zhou Kui's home, thus temporarily preserving her life

The sound of Li Zicheng's applause echoed at the door

This is the multitude of living beings

Uh, not willing at the moment

Li Zicheng said very straightforwardly

However, Li Zicheng did not extend much courtesy to them

You are acquitted of all charges

The general who was shot back at the Zhengyang Gate said happily

He had just arrived on the rooftop and had not yet steadied himself when a dozen sharp arrows flew towards him almost simultaneously. He hurriedly lunged forward but rolled off the roof instead. Before he could get back on his feet, a goose-feather knife was already at his ear. In a split second, he rolled to the side to evade it, and as the knife struck the ground, he swiftly grabbed a pot of cold plum blossoms, stood up, and pushed it forward.

The shielded heavy infantry is not without its weaknesses

Li Zicheng did not speak again and turned to leave the small courtyard

"Your Excellency, please be seated!"

Why?

Yang Qing suddenly had a foreboding feeling

At that moment, the sound of urgent hoofbeats came from behind him, and he quickly hid to the side along with the eunuch who was dressed similarly.

Li Zicheng said

Yang Qing straightforwardly handed the handle of the knife to the general

Similarly, if it were not for those corrupt officials who excessively annexed land, even forcing the core military households of the Ming army to become serfs, the army would not have deteriorated to such an extent. In fact, defeating the Jianzhou Jurchens would not have been so complicated. If we were to bring back the Ming army from the era of Zhu Yuanzhang or even from the time of Zhu Da, when the military household system had not yet decayed, they would have easily overturned the wild boar skins using their spear formations.

The injury of Princess Kunxing must be treated

Amidst the falling red petals, he seized the hand of the general wielding the knife with his right hand, and in the moment of pulling back, his left shoulder collided with the general's chest. The general was knocked back violently, and Yang Qing's right hand slid back, pushing the knife's hilt until the blade was in his grasp. However, at that moment, two other soldiers arrived, and two Yanling knives simultaneously descended. Yang Qing, holding the knife in reverse, blocked upward to deflect them. The general took the opportunity to steady himself and casually received the long spear handed to him by his subordinate, thrusting it directly at Yang Qing's chest without any hesitation. Yet, Yang Qing moved with a ghostly agility, twisting his body so that the spear barrel almost rolled into his embrace. In the next moment, the Yanling knife was firmly pressed against the general's neck.

Li Zicheng said with an unchanged expression

This issue was raised by an official at the beginning of the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign

Ha, let's see where you run this time

Certainly, it cannot be said that he is guilty

He then said to Yang Qing

The King of Chaos, someone intends to assassinate the King of Chaos

The spirit of the King of Adventurers, who has just reached the pinnacle of life, is excellent, with a beaming smile as he nods occasionally to both sides. Immediately, the officials and gentry who have submitted to him begin to sing his praises, and not even the wind and snow can dampen their fervent enthusiasm for the King of Adventurers. It is estimated that if Chongzhen were to witness this scene, his expression would darken even further.

Yang Qing exchanged a glance with the eunuch

Their greed has left the Ming Dynasty with corpses scattered across the land

This rebel leader, wearing a felt hat and a light blue robe, rode a black horse, followed by a large number of fully armored cavalry. Additionally, there were two individuals dressed in civil official attire, presumably Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance.

Li Laiheng said

Yang Qing expressed his sentiments

Dressed in an old long gown and wearing a tattered square cap, Yang Qing, who resembled a poor scholar, walked through the snowstorm in the capital city. Due to the orders of the invading army mandating that shops must remain open, there were still many pedestrians on the streets. After all, regardless of the change of dynasties, life must go on for everyone. Then, when the foreign invaders trampled through two months later, they would continue to live in this numbness, and three hundred years later, when the colonizers arrived, they would still do the same, and when the Japanese invaders came, it would be no different.

The humble subject Yang Qing pays his respects to Your Majesty

The latter is actually not much younger than him, and can be considered a youthful hero. He is also a straightforward person; after taking the handle of the knife, he smiled and sheathed it. However, the soldiers around still remained vigilant. Li Zicheng waved his hand to signal them to step back. Of course, only those holding knives retreated, while the group of soldiers behind him, armed with matchlock guns, still had their match cords lit.

However, it also provided him with an opportunity

Do not mention the so-called Little Ice Age; it affects the north, while the south only experiences a thin layer of ice forming on Taihu Lake in winter. The three major grain-producing regions of Sichuan, the Jianghan Plain, and the Yangtze River Delta have not been affected. Although the area of grain cultivation in Jiangnan has significantly decreased due to the development of the textile industry, do not forget that sweet potatoes have already been cultivated in Guangdong and Fujian by this time, and this region will certainly not be without surplus grain

Yang Qing looked at him with a face full of melancholy